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Humility and Persistence Carry Alum into the Major Leagues

April 7, 2013

BAs, BBs, BKs, HRAs, RBIs . . . it seems that baseball was just made for statistics (and vice versa). And like any announcer worth his salt, the Seattle Mariners’ newest broadcasting recruit knows and loves statistics, with one major exception—himself!

Referring to early employment challenges in his chosen career, Aaron Goldsmith (US’02, C’06) learned an important lesson: he didn’t have to be a statistic—of unemployment trends or luck or happenstance—when it came to finding the right professional fit. Goldsmith was hired by the Mariners in January, being selected for the post from nearly 160 applicants, including several veteran radio broadcasters.

Speaking to students on both the School and College campuses recently, Goldsmith pithily described his beginnings in sports broadcasting—which ran the gamut of unpaid internships; low-paying jobs ($70 a month, in one case); three years of additional study; moving in with mom and dad; sleeping on friends’ couches; and on one memorable evening, not having the funds to buy a $1 hamburger! Eventually, as he joked, he did start making enough money to be able to propose to his wife, Heather (Harmon, C’07).

Here are a few of the other lessons Goldsmith credits with keeping him from being a statistic: balancing confidence that one will be led to the right next step with the humility to listen; focusing more on what you can bring to your work than what the job can do for you; seeking and cultivating experienced mentors; and making the most of each opportunity.

In addition, Goldsmith said his Principia education (he majored in history at the College) proved to be highly relevant, especially to the multitasking he had to do in the double- and triple-A leagues. Crafting daily blogs and press releases were all part of being a radio broadcaster for the Portland (Maine) Sea Dogs, the Dallas-based Frisco Rough Riders, and the AAA Pawtucket (Rhode Island) Red Sox. So Goldsmith put the writing and analytical skills developed through his Upper School and College career to use on a regular basis.

Goldsmith is already broadcasting with the Mariners during their spring training in Arizona, and he looks forward to going live with veteran lead broadcaster Rick Rizzs for the season’s first major-league broadcast on April 1 in Oakland, California.